Apple Delays M5 Ultra Mac Studio Release Due to Memory Costs and AI Chip Shift
Apple is delaying the release of the M5 Ultra chip for a refreshed Mac Studio, citing supply constraints and rising memory costs, Bloomberg reported. The postponement means the workstation, code-named J775, will launch later than the 2026 timeline the company originally set. The M5 Ultra was expected to feature around 36 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores, along with tested support for up to 768 gigabytes of memory, which would position it among the most powerful processors available for mainstream computers.
The chip delay coincides with a broader strategic reshuffle in Apple’s silicon roadmap. Apple plans to launch the base M6 chip for its Mac lineups as early as this year, but will skip the high-end M6 Pro, Max, and Ultra variants. Instead, the company intends to fast-track the AI-focused M7 lineup, which will include the M7 Pro and M7 Max for release in 2027 and the M7 Ultra for 2028. This pivot prioritizes on-device artificial intelligence processing and upgraded graphics capabilities over raw performance in the current generation. The shift follows steep increases in component pricing, with memory costs rising more than 600% over the past three years and CEO Tim Cook recently noting that Apple has reached a point where it must begin raising product prices.
From the sources (23 posts)
@financialjuiceApple to skip high-end m6 mac chips in favor of AI-focused M7, a rare strategy change to meet demand for ai workflows. $AAPL
@financialjuiceApple plans to roll out the base M6 chip then M7 Pro, Max and Ultra. $AAPL
@firstsquawkAPPLE WILL NOT RELEASE HIGH-END M6 MAC CHIPS AND WILL INSTEAD FOCUS ON AI-DRIVEN M7 CHIPS TO BETTER ALIGN WITH AI WORKFLOW DEMANDS.
@firstsquawkAPPLE WILL INTRODUCE THE BASE M6 CHIP, FOLLOWED BY M7 PRO, MAX, AND ULTRA VARIANTS. APPLE IS ALSO TESTING A LOW-END MACBOOK PRO FEATURING THE STANDARD M6 PROCESSOR.
@financialjuiceApple testing a low-end MacBook Pro with the regular M6 processor. $AAPL
@markgurmanNEW: Apple has shaken up its Mac chip strategy. It plans to launch a base M6 chip and then jump ahead to the M7, M7 Pro, M7 Max and M7 Ultra, skipping higher-end M6 processors.
@businessRT @markgurman: NEW: Apple has shaken up its Mac chip strategy. It plans to launch a base M6 chip and then jump ahead to the M7, M7 Pro, M7…
@deitaoneAPPLE TO SKIP HIGH END M6 MAC CHIPS IN FAVOR OF AI-FOCUSED M7 LINE
@businessApple is making one of the biggest-ever changes to its Mac silicon strategy, preparing to jump ahead to a new artificial intelligence-focused chip generation for its next top-end processors
@markgurmanApple is pulling forward the M7 line-up, which will include major AI processing improvements, in order to meet consumer demand for more advanced on-device models and workflows sooner than initially planned.
@markgurmanApple skipping the M6 Pro, M6 Max and M6 Ultra will be a first in the history of Apple Silicon. It previously skipped the M4 Ultra, but never only launched a base chip for a new generation.
@markgurmanApple is testing the base-level M6 with a refreshed entry-level MacBook Pro that has been planned for this year. Apple also still is planning an M5 Ultra chip, destined for a refreshed Mac Studio as early as this year too.
@markgurmanThe M6 will still get improvements, including a jump to 200GBPS of memory bandwidth (up from 153GBPS on the M5), a revamped GPU (12 cores versus 10 on M5), as well as other upgrades detailed in this story.
@markgurmanApple’s plans are fluid given the component supply chain right now, but it aims to launch the M6 this year, the M7 by the middle of next year, the M7 Pro and M7 Max in late 2027 and the M7 Ultra in 2028.
@wallstengine$AAPL is planning a major Mac silicon shift, per Bloomberg: base M6 chips as early as this year, but no high-end M6 Pro/Max. Apple will instead move top-end Macs to AI-focused M7 Pro/Max chips in 2027, with M7 Ultra planned for 2028. https
@techmemeSources: Apple plans to skip higher-end M6 chips and launch its next Pro and Max chips in 2027 as part of the M7 lineup, to boost on-device AI capabilities (@markgurman / Bloomberg) (Visit Techmeme dot com for the link and full context!)
@kimmonismusApple is making one of its biggest Mac silicon strategy shifts yet. According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to launch a base M6 chip as early as this year, but skip the usual M6 Pro and M6 Max variants entirely. Instead, the company is report
@edludlowRT @markgurman: NEW: Apple has shaken up its Mac chip strategy. It plans to launch a base M6 chip and then jump ahead to the M7, M7 Pro, M7…
@mweinbachM6 apparently gets 200 GB/s memory bandwidth and updated memory architecture M7 (which apparently comes out shortly after) is 240GB/s memory bandwidth and M5 Ultra with up to 768GB of memory I'm confused by M6 Pro/Max being canned for
@sawyermerrittToday's price increases from Apple could continue with the way things are headed. Xbox is increasing console prices by 25% in August, saying that console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and that they expect anoth
@markgurmanApple still plans to release one more chip for the current generation: the M5 Ultra. It’s scheduled to arrive as early as this year as part of a new Mac Studio, code-named J775, that has been postponed due to the supply and cost challenges.
@markgurmanThe M5 Ultra chip — code-named Sotra D or H17D — will have around 36 central processing unit cores and 80 GPU cores. Those specifications would make it one of the most powerful chips available in a mainstream computer.
@markgurmanApple has also tested support for up to 768 gigabytes of memory in the M5 Ultra Mac Studio, though the component constraints could complicate its debut. The company originally launched the M3 Ultra Mac Studio in 2025 with support for 512 gi